Snap-seal.



E. J. BROOKS.

SNAP SEAL. 7 APPLICATION FILED NOV.12, 1912.

Patented Feb. 11

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES E. J. BROOKS.

SNAP SEAL.

APPLICATION FILED 11017.12, 1912.

Patented Feb. 1 1, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR WITNESSES M 2.. W

EDWARD J. BROOKS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

SNAP-SEAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11,1913.

Application filed November 12, 1912. Serial No. 730,924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. Bnooxs, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of East Orange, in the State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Snap-Seals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates, in common with previous improvements, to self-fastening seals, or snap seals as they are commonly termed, for use, as substitutes for lead and wire seals and other press-fastened or pressfastenable sealing devices, to secure the doors of railway freight cars and for other like purposes. Examples of such snap seals are set forth in my previous specifications forming part of United States Letters Patent No. 1,030,458, patented June 25, 1912, No. 1,035,526 patented August 18, 1912, and other Letters Patent therein referred to.

The present invention is more particularly additional to the improvements in snap seals set forth. in the two previous specifications first mentioned; relating especially to snap seals in which a seal part includes two bulb members united by a circumferential oint as shown at Figs. 10, 11 and 12 in the drawings accompanying the earlier of said specifications, and to double catch-engaging center pieces for such seal parts, and flexible sheetmetal slrackles adapted to interlock therewith, embodying some of the principles of construction set forth in both of said previous specifications, including normally flat snapcatch shackle ends.

The present invention consists in certain novel combination of parts, and in an improved snap seal embodying said combinations or any of them, as hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

The leading objects of this invention are to obviate contracted slots in the catch-en; gaging center-piece and to render the improved snap-seal unpickable.

Other objects will be set forth in the general description, which follows.

Two sheets of drawings accompany this specification as part thereof.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 are respectively top, side and edge views of one form of the improved center piece, detached; Figs. 4 and 5 are top and side views of a bulb-shaped seal part containing said center piece; Fig. 6 is a. face View of one form of the improved shackle, detached; Fig. 7 is an elevation of the improved snap seal composed of said seal part and shackle, as it leaves the factory, including an edge view of the shackle; Figs. 8 and 9 represent magnified longitudinal, sections in planes at right angles to each other through the seal part of the improved snap seal, fastened; and Fig. 10 represents a magnified cross-section on the line A-B, Fig. 9, showing a bottom View of said center piece in the fastened seal. (The sectional planes of Figs. 8 and 9 are represented by the lines CD and D-E respectively.) Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are respectively top, side and edg views of a second center piece; Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are like views respectively of a modified center piece; Figs. 17 and 18 are respectively face and edge views of a second shackle; Fig. 19 represents a magnified longitudinal section through the seal part, second centerpiece and one shackle end, illustrating the shackle-end deflecting operation; Fig. 20 is a like view of the same parts showing the seal as it leaves the factory; Fig. 21 is a like view of the seal, as finally snap fastened, showing both shackle ends in section; and Fig. 22 is a like view of the same part-s as in Fig. 21, illustrating the secondary locking of either shackle end of the fastened seal should the same be partially released by manipulation. (The sectional plane of said Figs. 1922 is sufii ciently indicated by said line CD, Fig. 8.) The second species illustrated by said Figs. 11-13 and Figs. 1722 is selected for such of the claims hereto appended as are 'not generic to both species.

Like reference characters refer to like The improved snap seal, as a whole, is liltended and adapted to be made of suitable tin (tin plate) sufiiciently thin, stronga'nd resilient for the purposes of the several parts as hereinafter described.

The seal part a, as heretofore, is composed of bulb pieces 1 and 2, permanently united after the insertion of the center piece by a circumferential joint,3; and the upperbulb piece is'provided with an inlet hole 4 fitted to the two shackle ends, and 6, together With an interposed rigid tongue, 7, on the center piece, including embossed inlet guards, 8 and 9, on the respective shackle 5 ends, each having a semi-cylindrical stem constructed to project into the seal part.

The lower bulb piece 2 of the seal part a is made somewhat small-er in diameter than the upper bulb piece 1, so as to form an annular shoulder, 10, (Figs. 8 and 9, and Figs. 1922) within the seal part; and the center piece 0 or c or c is so proportioned that it is held in place by the interaction of said shoulder 10 with points, 11, 12, 13, 14, of the center-piece.

The shackle ends 5 and 6 of each of the improved shackles, b, b are notched as shown so as to render them more flexible and to provide each with a pair of laterally disposed catch shoulders, 15 and 16, which are supplemented by the provision of each shackle end with a catch hole, 17, or an open-ended catch projection 17, as its withdrawal resisting portions. Between the re- 5 spective inlet guards 8 and 9 and the middle of the shackle Z) or 6 it may be co-nveniently provided with the customary dist-inguishing marks or lettering and serial number, either embossed or printed, represented 0 by A. B. C. D. Ry. and 300000 in Fig. 6.

The improved center piece a or 0 or 0 is produced by machinery, in' the form represent-ed by Figs. 1-3 or Figs. 11-13 or Figs.

14-16, from flat tin. Its said points 11, 12, 13, 14 are the several extremities of a pair of laterally bent shackle-end flexing portions corresponding generally with the depending and slot-ted catch portions of the center pieces set forth in said previous specifications; but, instead of slotting these portions in the manner before practised, the improved center piece of either of the hereindescribed species is provided with a single recess, 18, of sufiicient extent at its lower and widest part for the free passage of both shackle ends through the recessed flexing portions, and sufliciently contracted above, at and near the middle of the center piece,

to resist the withdrawal of either shackle piece. Within this recess 19, adjoining said contracted portion of said recess 18, the withdrawal resisting surfaces of either center piece are located as shown at 19*, Fig. 10. The superjacent side portions 20 and 21 of the center piece extend obliquely upward, and are fitted to the interior of the upper 66 bulb piece 1. Compare Figs. 13 with Fig;

9, and Figs. 1113 or Figs. 1 116 with Figs. 1922.' Projecting downward from said side portions 20 and 21 are a pair of pointed spring fingers 22 or 22 or 22. In the first and second of the hereindescribed cenm ter pieces these fingers, 22, 22, are preferably and conveniently integral with said side portions 20, 21, and formed by metal cut from the recess 18 and from notches 23 if required in the metal of the middle port-ion of the center piece. In said first species (Figs. 1-10) the pointed lower extremities of said spring fingers 22 of the center piece 0 are rebent so as to make them more or less hook-shaped and to cause them to project toward each other, as shown in Figs. 3, 9 and 10. In the second species (Figs. 1113 and Figs. 17-22) the pointed spring fingers, 22, of the center-piece 0 are simply pointed, and project obliquely downward; but are otherwise like those of said first species. In the modification of said second species represented by Figs. 1416 the pointed spring fingers 22 are integral with the side-portions 20, 21 of the centerpiece 0 but project downward from the upper edges of said side portions. 20, 21, adjoining their outer sides. See especially 7 Fig. 16.

In an improved snap seal of either of the hereindescribed species, when one of the shackle ends 5 and 6 is thrust through the inlet hole 4, guided by the rigid protruding portion 7 of the center piece 0, or 0 or 0 the notched portion of the shackle'end is flexed or bent at its notches in passing through said recess 18 in the outwardly bent portions which form the points 11, 12, 13, 14, as illustrated by Fig. .19; and it springs back to its original shape so that a pull on the shackle brings its catch sho-ul ders 15, 16 into the recess 19, where they engage the withdrawal resisting surfaces of the metal of the center piece at the upper port-ion of the recess 18. (Compare Figs. 8 and 10). The seal part a and shackle b or b are thus preliminarily united as in Fig. 7 and Fig. 20; and, after passing the other shackle end through a pair of cardoor staples or their equivalent in customary manner, the second shackle end is inserted and snap-fastened in like manner. Compare Figs. 810 and Figs. 21, 22. The interaction of the side portions 20, 21 of the center piece 0 with the lower ends of the inlet guards 8, 9, as indicated in Figs. 9 and 20 and 21, tends to draw the shackle shoulders 15, 16 of each shackle end into said recess 19, and to retain them therein; as also to keep the shackle ends parallel with each other; and thus aids to prevent picking the fastened seal.

In the first species (Figs. 110), the entering shackle end 5 or 6 presses back the corresponding spring finger 22, and at the limit of the inward movement of the shackle end, as determined by the contact of its inlet guard 8 or 9 with the top of the seal part, the catch hole 17 of the shackle end freely admits the extremity of the spring finger, and permits the finger to resume its normal position as in Fig. 9.

In the second species (Figs. 1113, or Figs. 1416, and Figs. 17-22), the spring fingers 22 or 22 assist to restore the shackle ends to their original flat or unflexed form and to hold them in effective position, but do not become effective as withdrawal resisting means unless the seal is tampered with. In this event the manipulation of either shackle end, to dislodge its catch shoulders 15, 16, from the recess 19, causes the embossed catch projection 17 of the shackle end to embrace the adjoining extremity of the corresponding spring finger 22 or 22", as shown in Fig. 22, and

withdrawal of the shackle end is then effectively resisted by said spring finger 22 or 22".

The material of which the seal part a, especially, is composed is not considered es sential; the shackle b or b may be of any required length, and its inlet guards 8 and 9 may vary in shape or in some cases may be omitted; and other like modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

Having thus described said improvement, I claim as my invention and desire to patent under this specification:

1. An improved snap seal having, in combination, a bulb-shaped seal part constructed with a suitable inlet hole, a resiliently flexible shackle constructed with a nor mally flat withdrawal-resisting catch portion at each end, and a center-piece supported within said seal part in juxtaposition to said inlet hole; saidcenter piece being constructed with shackle-end flexing portions each of which is bent laterally as a whole, a passage-way forming recess common to said flexing portions, a V-shaped recess extending from edge to edge between said flexing portions, and catch-engaging surfaces within the recess last named.

2. The combination, in a snap seal, of a bulb-shaped seal part having an inlet hole,

a resiliently flexible shackle having a normally flat withdrawal resisting catch por tion at each end, and a center piece supported within said seal part in juxtaposition to said inlet hole; said center-piece being constructed with laterally bent shackleend flexing portions, a V-shaped recess extending from edge to edge between these portions, a recess forming passageways in said flexing portions through which the temporarily flex-ed shackle ends are insertible, withdrawal resisting surfaces of the metal within said V-shaped recess, 10-

cated to interlock with said catch portion of each shackle end in the normal position of the latter within the fastened seal, superjacent side portions, and spring fingers depending from these side portions and located to press against the temporarily deflected shackle ends and to assist in keeping said catch portions of the shackle ends in effective relation to said withdrawal resisting surfaces.

3. The combination, in a snap seal, of a bulb-shaped seal part having an inlet hole, a resiliently flexible shackle having a normally flat withdrawal-resisting catch portion constructed with catch shoulders and a supplemental catch at each end, and a catch-engaging center piece supported within said seal part in juxtaposition to said inlet hole; said center piece being constructed with laterally bent shackle-end flexing aortions a V-sha ed recess extendin from edge to edge between these portions, a recess forming passageways in said flexing portions through which the temporarily flexed shackle ends are insertible, withdrawal-resisting surfaces located to interlock with said catch shoulders of each shackle end, the shackle end being in its normal fastened position within said V- shaped recess, superjacent side-portions, and spring fingers depending from these side portions and located to press against the temporarily deflected shackle ends and to interlock with said supplemental catch of each shackle end as secondary withdrawal resisting means.

4. The combination, in a snap seal, of a bulb-shaped seal part having an inlet hole, a resiliently flexible shackle having a nor mally flat withdrawal-resisting catch portion at each end constructed with laterally disposed catch shoulders and an open-ended catch projection, and a catch-engaging center piece supported within said seal part in juxtaposition to said inlet hole; said center piece being constructed with laterally bent shackle-end flexing portions, a V-shaped recess extending from edge to edge between these portions, a recess forming passageways in said flexing portions through which the temporarily flexed shackle ends are insertible, withdrawal-resisting surfaces located to interlock with said catch shoulders of each shackle end, the shackleend being in its normal fastened position within said V-shaped recess, superjacent side portions, and spring fingers depending from these side portions, having pointed lower extremities, and located to press against the temporarily deflected shackle ends and to interlock with said catch projection of each shackle end as secondary withdrawal-resisting means.

5. The combination, in a snap seal, of a bulb-shaped seal part having a suitable inlet hole, a resiliently flexible shackle having a withdrawal-resisting catch portion at each end and an inlet guard located adjacent to each catch portion and constructed to extend inward through said inlet hole, and a catch-engaging center piece supported within said seal part in juxtaposition to said inletho le and constructed with laterally bent and recessed shackle-end flexing portions through which the shackle ends are insertible and having withdrawal-resisting surfaces, a recess between said flexing portions within which the fastened shackleends are normally located, and superjacent side portions constructed to interact with said inward extensions of. the inlet guards to assist in keeping the shackle ends parallel to each other with their catch portions in effective relation to said withdrawal resisting surfaces.

6. The combination, in a snap seal, of a bulb-shaped seal part composed of upper and lower bulb pieces permanently united by a circumferential joint, the lower being of less diameter than the upper to form a circumferential shoulder within the seal part, and the upper bulb piece provided with a suitable inlet hole, a resiliently flexible shackle having a withdrawal-resisting catch portion at each end, and a catch-engaging center piece within said seal part constructed with laterally bent and recessed shackleend flexing portions forming four points adapted to interact with said shoulder within the seal part for supporting said center piece in juxtaposition to said inlet hole, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

EDWARD J. BROOKS.

Witnesses:

LEONARD O. LINDSAY, MONTGOMERY LINDSAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

